THE MINERS 257 



ance to an unnatural end. Suddenly the 

 wasp pounces upon the singer, the song 

 stops short, there is a tussle, in which both 

 sometimes fall to the ground, but during 

 which the poor cicada receives the fatal 

 thrust. It is now the property of the 

 wasp, who proceeds to bear home the 

 booty. The cicada is heavy, however, too 

 heavy to be borne up in the air, and the 

 wasp, knowing the advantage of an ele- 

 vated starting-point in such cases, drags 

 the heavy body up the nearest tree, and 

 from the vantage point thus gained, springs 

 into the air and flies home, if the nest is 

 near at hand. If it is far away, her burden 

 forces the wasp to the earth again, and she 

 must needs climb another tree and take a 

 fresh start. 



Sometimes she has to climb several trees 

 before getting home. Her tunnel ends in a 

 pocket, where she places the cicada on its 

 back, lays a long white Qgg on the under 

 side of it, and closing the cell leaves her 



17 



